Gym dandy ride

ABSTRACT

An amusement or exercise device constructed from an elongated overhead support and a vertical suspension member. The elongated overhead support is in a horizontal plane and is connected at each end to a pair of spaced apart anchor supports. The vertical suspension extends downwardly from the elongated overhead support. The overhead support is provided with a turnbuckle for adjusting its tension. The vertical suspension member is attached to the horizontal overhead support by a swivel pulley which will freely roll along the overhead support. The lower end of the vertical suspension member is provided with a rigid seat and positioned between the ends of the vertical suspension member is a cross-bar handle which may be held by a user while being supported on the seat.

United States Patent [1 1 Hendrickson GYM DANDY RIDE [76] Inventor: William H. Hendrickson, Rt. 2, Box

17-A, Mancos, Colo. 81328 22 Filed: Jan. 9, 1973 21 Appl.l\lo.:322,220

[ 11 Oct. 1,1974

Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner--Theatrice Brown 5 7 ABSTRACT An amusement or exercise device constructed from an elongated overhead support and a vertical suspension member. The elongated overhead support is in a horizontal plane and is connected at each end to a pair of spaced apart anchor supports. The vertical suspension extends downwardly from the elongated overhead support. The overhead support is provided with a turnbuckle for adjusting its tension. The vertical suspension member is attached to the horizontal overhead support by a swivel pulley which will freely roll along the overhead support. The lower end of the vertical suspension member is provided with a rigid seat and positioned between the ends of the vertical suspension member is a cross-bar handle which may be held by a user while being supported on the seat.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures GYM DANDY RIDE Cross-references cited in Preliminary Search US. Pat. Nos. 3,294,196 and 3,078,954.

The structure of the present invention is quite simple involving the use of two adjustable sections of flexible rope or line, one above the other, constructed of braided material such as polypropylene, nylon or the like.

The lower and upper rope sections are readily and safely adjustable through the simple bowline knot for the upper tree connections, and any knot, such as a figure eight, too large for the hole in the seat stand at the bottom.

A transverse rigid member or handhold enables a child to balance while swinging. This transverse member is joined to the upper and lower rope sections through S-hooks and securely bolted shaped metal straps. It lends itself well, also, to chin-ups, leg hangs and the like. In addition to the exercise benefit, youngsters find this a highly entertaining amusement device, particularly the mobile feature through a swivel pulley on a steel cable track.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent will be found in the details of construction and operation more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating the installation for the mobile operation of the device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the installation for the fixed operation of the device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the turnbuckle and connections to the rigid vertical support and the cable track.

FIG. 4 is a detailed enlarrged view of the shaped metal straps and connections to the crossbar handle and flexible rope.

FIG. 5 is a prespective view illustrating the connection of the rigid seat member to the lower end of the flexible suspension member.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the upper end of flexible rope 11 (upper section) has a bowline knot connection to an S-hook 9, (FIG. 2) or optional snap hook 3, which in turn is fastened to an overhead support 1 such as a tree limb, building structural component, or the like, by means of an eyebolt 2 or other closed end device such as a stout cable, as long as the flexible rope 11 is free to hang downwardly toward the ground surface. This is the fixed point method of suspension. Alternately, an upper S-hook (optional), snap hook 3 (optional), or bowline knot (illustrated), may be fastened to the loop in swivel pulley 8, which moves freely on a steel cable track 7. The cable track of variable lengths, and looped at each end by cable clamps 6, is rigidly anchored to stout vertical members 1, such as trees, building strustures, and the like by means of eye bolts 2, cables, and snap hooks 3. A slight slope in the track installation provides for the devices locomotion by gravity. Additional cable clamps 6 are provided at intermediate control points.

A double eye turnbuckle 4 at one end of the track, to draw cable taut after hook-up, is linked to anchor point 1 and track 7 by snap hook 3 to l, and snap hook 5 to 7. The other end of the track is similarly linked to anchor point 1, enabling snap hooks 3 or 5 to be detachably connected with eye of eye bolt 2 or other closed end device such as cable and the like.

The lower end of flexible rope 11 (upper section), has a bowline knot connection 10 to an S-hook 9, which in turn is joined to the upper end of two shaped steel straps 12 that enclose a transverse round rigid member 13 (cross-bar handle).

The upper end of flexible rope 11 (lower section) has a bowline knot connection 10 to an S-hook 9, which in turn is joined to the bottom of the steel straps 12 that enclose the cross-bar handle. These straps are made fast to the cross-bar handle by means of bolt, washer, nut combinations 14, 20, 21 and l7, l8, 19.

The lower end of flexible rope 11 (lower section) passes through a perpendicular hole in the center of a flat, rigid transverse member 15 (seat-stand), and terminates in a large knot 16 that will not slip through the hole when weight is placed on the member.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device is used somewhat in the nature of a swing by an occupant of seat stand 15 from both the fixed installation FIG. 2, and the mobile overhead installation FFIG. ll. It will be appreciated that the cross-bar handle and seat stand can be oriented at desired spaced elevational relation through the bowline and bottom knot adjustments. In the various positions, the cross-bar handle is an excellent exercising and gymnastics device for chin-ups, leg hangs, and the like.

For permanent installation all S-hooks are closed in the interest of safety. When variation from fixed to mobile operationis desired, the snap hook 3 is interposed between bowline knot 10 and eyebolt 2 in FIG. 2, and between Bowline knot 10 and swivel pulley 8 in FIG. 1. 1

Both cross-bar handle and seat-stand may be constructed of wood, plastics, or metals, so long as the strength requirements are satisfied. In packaging, the seat-stand is used somewhat as a reel while the flexible rope is wound around it, and the cross-bar handle laid across the top without disconnecting it during the wind ing process. The track (with attachments) is coiled and placed on top of the rest of the unit, enabling the device to be packaged in a relatively compact condition.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An amusement and exercise device comprising an overhead support, upper and lower elongated flexible suspension members, a seat, an elongated rigid bar, and connecting means for joining said flexible members, said connecting means comprising; a pair of generally U-shaped rigid members each having a transversally extending flange extending from each leg of said U-shape and being in the same plane, the arrangement being such that said bar is clamped between said U-shaped members such that corresponding legs of said U-shaped members are engaged in an abutting relationship, said upper flexible member having one of its ends connected to said overhead support and its other end connected to a flange of each U-shaped member, said lower flexible member having one of its ends attached to the other flange of the. U-shaped members and. its other end having said seat attached thereto, the arrangement being such that said rigid member is suspended between said overhead support member and said seat. 7

2. The amusement and exercise device of claim 1 wherein said overhead support is a single fixed point.

said one end of said upper flexible member being attached to said pulley and said pulley being capable of moving along said track, said track having means for adjusting the tension therein.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FFICE CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION Patent 51,838,854 Dated hoctober 1, 1974.

Invent m H. Hendrickson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below;

Title of invention "Gym dandy ride should" rea Exeride Signed and s eaied this 28th day of Jenuary- 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. r C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM I j V USCOMM-DC 60375-P69 

1. An amusement and exercise device comprising an overhead support, upper and lower elongated flexible suspension members, a seat, an elongated rigid bar, and connecting means for joining said flexible members, said connecting means comprising a pair of generally U-shaped rigid members each having a transversally extending flange extending from each leg of said U-shape and being in the same plane, the arrangement being such that said bar is clamped between said U-shaped members such that corresponding legs of said U-shaped members are engaged in an abutting relationship, said upper flexible member having one of its ends connected to said overhead support and its other end connected to a flange of each U-shaped member, said lower flexible member having one of its ends attached to the other flange of the Ushaped members and its other end having said seat attached thereto, the arrangement being such that said rigid member is suspended between said overhead support member and said seat.
 2. The amusement and exercise device of claim 1 wherein said overhead support is a single fixed point.
 3. The amusement and exercise device of claim 1 wherein said overhead support is an elongated horizontally disposed track having each of its ends anchored to a fixed point said track being taut between said anchor points, said anchor further including a swivel pulley, said one end of said upper flexible member being attached to said pulley and said pulley being capable of moving along said track, said track having means for adjusting the tension therein. 